Metal-bending mechanism.



A. L. LEWIS Q 1. L.. TURNEY. METAL BENmNG MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED- FEB. 6. l9l7. @911 6., Patented Jan. 22,1918.

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'mun L. Lewis, or ROCHESTER, AND JOHN i.. runner, or Monaca, PENNSYL- venia. y

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented dan.. 22, tbl

Application filed February 6, 1917. Serial N o. 146,942.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ARTHUR L. Lnwrs and JOHN L. TURKEY. citizens oi the United States, residing at Rochester and Monaca,

respectively, in the county yoi Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful `Improvements, in Metal- Bending Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention contemplates certain new and usefulimprovements in metal bending mechanisms andrelates more especially to an improved device for bending i'latplates or skelp into tubular shapes.

'I he present invention has for an object the production of-a tube forming mechanism in which the .skelp7 from which. the tube is formed is successively treated by relatively positioned Iforming devices, said devices being cooperatively associated with a bending die through which the skelp is drawn. l

Another object of this invention is to produce a tube forming mechanism including among other things a bending die or shaping trough. a plurality of coperating tube forming devices adjustablv positioned with relation to the said bending die and to each other, the said coperating tube forming devices comprising a movable blow member arranged to give an initial curvature to the skelp. and a movable tube 'form-` ing device or pipe ball around and over which the skelp is drawn as it passes through the bending die. I i

A further object of this invention is the production ofV a tubeY forming mechanism including in combination a bending die or shaping trough, a cooperating tube forming device over which the skelp is drawn.y and means for positively lowering and raising the said tube forming member with-relation to the bending die. i v p A still further object of -the present invention is to produce a tube forming mechanism including in combination' a bending Vdie or shaping trough, a plurality of Vcooperating tube forming devices, movable into and out of the-said bending die, positive guiding mechanism for the said devices, means including positively operated pistons connected to the4 said tube forming devices for the raising and lowering thereof, and

additional means for retracting one of said tubef `fori'ning devices from within the bending die.

With these and other objects in view the invention further consists in the arrangement and combination of the several mechanisms hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration an embodiment of our invention;

Figure l is a side elevation of our improved tube forming mechanism, a portion of a conventionalskelp drawing mechanism being shown applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof, the skelp drawing mechanism being removed,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation showing the relative positions of the tube forming devices, at one stage ot the operation as the skelp is being drawn through the bending die.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view, illustrating the means of adjustment of the cylinders which contain the pistons carrying the tube forming devices.

Figs. 5 and G are detail horizontal sectional views on the lines 5-5 and 66, respectively. of Fig. 1. further showing the relative adjustment of the cylinders.

Fig. 7 isa detail sectional end elevation on the line 7--7 of Fig. 1 showing the supporting means for the` cylinders.

Fig. Sis an enlarged sectional View of one of the tube forming devices; and,

Fig. 9 is a detail vertical'sectional view on the line 9 9 of Fig.

The present invention has been primarily designed to facilitate the production of metal pipe or tubing. ln the producing of metal pipe or tubing it is usual to draw the flat plate or skelp through a bending dieand `over a suitable tube forming device which is positioned within the bending die as the skelp is drawn therethrough. The positioning of the tube forming device is now largely a matter of manual labor. The

initial treating of the skelp Vin giving it a slight bend wlienit is fed into the entrance end of the bending die is also a Vmatter of 4 manual labor, it being usual for two men to Sledge this curvature into the skelp. To overcome these laborious operations, the present invention hasbeen produced wherein sections14 and The'frame section`14 comprises t a U-shaped member, f 16 having; positioned therein frame sections 17 and 18.` ATheseframe sections. 17 and 1,-8 are in the.

a highly eiiicient mechanism is provided for accomplishing advantageously and economically the desired objects.

Referring to the drawings, the invention comprises a suitable bending die or shaping troughl mounted upon the base 2. This l bending die may be of the usual flaring or lmay Ybe driven by any suitable source of power, such-'as a motor or the like.

The tube forming devices which coperate with thebending die may be supported in any suitable manner, and for the purpose herein I show a frame 1a. The tube forming devices are Vsuccessively mounted Vin said frame, that is to say, one tube forming device 6 which delivers an initial blow tothe skelp is positioned near the entrance end of the bending die, *and the other tube forming'device 7 Vover which the skelp is drawn is located intermediate the length thereof. Suitable double actingpistons operable in cylinders 8 and 9,frespectivelycontrolthese tube forming devices. The movement of the pistons may be controlled by any `suitable source of pressure. Inthe cylinder 8 which controls the tube y forming device 6 the said pressureV .medium lis admitted upon either side ofthev pistonthrough the openings 10 and 11, respectively. In the cylinder 9 which controls the other tube forming device the kpressure medium is likewise admitted to either side of the piston through the openings 12 and 15. The pressure medium supply and discharge may be controlled through any suitable valve mecha-; nism, preferably ofthe fourfway'typeof usual construction,l (not shown). By; this` general construction it willbe .seen that the relativemovement of thetube .forming devices will be positivelycontrolled ina minimum amount of timewhen they arelowered 1 Therelative adjustment of the cylinders 8 and 9 is shownas comprising spaced frame nature of rfillingblocks .andserve to rigidly I support the vcylinders within the frame.

The filling block 18 is shownv` as ...provided with extensions 19, having openings therein yits ,rcciprocatory movement.

which registerwith similar openings in the U-shaped member 14. Bolts 2O pass through these registering openings. To the free ends of the U-shaped member 14 the depending arms '21 of a U-shaped member 22 are attached. The U-shaped member 22 depends from the upper portion of frame 1, as shown. The frame section 15 is of similar construction to that just described and comprises a U-shaped member having filling frames 23 and 24. The filling frame 23 supports the cylinder S and the frame 24 the cylinder 9. As shown, the filling frame 24 is provided with extensions 25 having openings therein which register with similar openings provided in the side arm of the U- shaped member of the frame 15. Bolts 2G secure the filling frame Q4 to the U-shapcd member. The free ends of this U-shaped member are secured to the frame 1 as shown.

The cylinders are further supported in the upper portion of the frame 1 by the vertically extending rods 27 which pass through a slotted bar 2S secured to the frame 1a. Nuts 29 are threaded on the rods above and below the said bar 28 and serve to hold the cylinders in adjusted position.

By this construction it will be seen that the respective cylinders 8 and 9 can be relatively adjusted within the frame 1, thereby providing for a corresponding positioning of the tube forming devices with relation to the bending die. The tube forming device ior initial blow member 6, which is controlled by the cylinder 8, is provided with a forming head 6*1 thc under-side of which is -of asubstantially corresponding curvature to that of the bending die at or about its entrance end. This tube forming device G is secured to the screw-threaded end of the piston rod 30. A suitable guide, comprising a rod 31 is attached to the piston rod by means of a nut 32. This guide rod extends y upwardly and passes through apertured lugs 33, formed on the cylinder 8. The pur- ,pose of this guide is to render the tube forming device stable and non-rotatable in The intermediate positioned tube forming device 7 over which the skelp is drawn and which YA'is controlled by the cylinder 9, is carried by the piston rod 34. This piston rod 34 is vslotted at its lower end at 35 and receives the end 36 of the pivotally supported arm 37. This arm 37 is reduced at one end, as at 38. and receives the tube forming device or pipe ball 7a which is rotatably secured thereto by the nut 39. The opposite end 36 of the arm 37 is slotted as at 40 and contains a spring 41 interposed between the end. of said arm and the pivotal connection 42 vwhich supports the tube forming device 7. 3 ,Suitable lugs 43 are provided to extend into the'ends lofthe spring, and pins 44 are innaaien 1e serted through said lugs between the end coils of the springV for retaining the said spring in position. By this construction it will be seen that the spring can be readily removed and a new one inserted. The lug 45 is provided on the end 3G of the arm 37 and abuts against a nut 46 screw-threaded upon the piston rod 34. Between the nut 46 and a similar nut 47 a guide member 48 is secured. The guide member 48 carries a rod 49 which reciprocates within the guidi ing lug 50 formed on the cylinder 9. The purpose of this guiding' device is to maintain the tube forming device 7 in a stable pcsition and free from rotation while being raised and lowered. A stop lug 51 is'provided on the arm 37 and limits the horizontal movement of the tube forming device or pipe balli within the bending die, as shown in Fig. 2.

The pivotal connection 42 comprises a block 52 upon which the arm 37 moves. One of the lugs 43 is carried by this block 52, as shown in Fig.` 6. A bolt 53 passes fit] through this block 52 and registering aper- `tures provided in the piston rod 34.

ln operation the flat plate is fed over a suitable device 54 into the flaring or bellshaped end of the bending die l. As the end ot' the flat plate or skelp passes beneath the tube forming device 6 it is given a slight bend corresponding to the curvature oi the bending die and the cooperating underside of the forming head 6a. The traveling gripper 3 is moved through the bending die and attached to the end ot' the skelp or tlat plate after it has been fed Within the flaring end of the said bending die. The connection a of the traveling'gripper is now attached to the sprocket chain 5 and the skelp is drawn through the bending die. After the tube -forming device G has given the initial curvature to the skelp it is withdrawn therefrom. The tube forming device 7 is new lowered upon the flat plate in timed relation thereto and as the skelp is drawn onward through the die the forming head or pipe ball 7a is drawn within the bending die and the skelp which has now been tubularly formedV at one end, as shown in Fig. 2. The piston rod 34 which carries thetube forming device 7 is moved a predetermined distance downwardly to insure the proper horizontal co-V operation of the pipe ball 7a within the bending die. Vhen the formed tube is withdrawn vfrom the bending die the spring 4l, which has been compressed during the drawing of the tube, will now act to withu draw the tube forming device 7 from within the bending die. The return of the piston rod 34 in an upward direction permits of the arm 37 assuming its relatively normal position, as shown in F ig. 6, with the lug 45 bearing against the nut 46.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that an eiiicient mechanism has been provided wherein certain economic advantages can be obtained, and a rapidity of operation secured for an increased output of the product. It will also be seen that the successive cooperation of the respective tube forming devices within the bending die in a positive manner Vpermits of a more uniform bending' ei the skelp.

"What we claim is:

1. A metal bending mechanism ot' the class described including in combination, a bending die, a movable tube forming device cooperating with said bending die and located near the entrance end thereof, another movable tube forniing device coperating with the said bending die located intermediate the length thereof, and means Y foro aeratinff said tube forminodevices. l c e 2. A metal bending mechanism of the class described including in combination a bending die, a movable tube forming device positioned at one end of said bending die, means including a. piston `for operating said tube forming device, another tube Jforming device positioned intermediate the length ot the bending die, and means including a piston for operating said second mentioned. tube forming device. y

3. A metal bending mechanism oi the class described, including in combination, a bending die, a movable tube forming device coperating with said die, means tor raising and lowering said tube forming device and means including a sliding connection for withdrawing the said tube forming device from within the bending die.

4. A metal bending mechanism of the class described including in combination a bending die, a tube forming device coperating with said die, means including a piston rod for raising and lowering said tube forming device and means including a spring for withdrawing said tube forming device from within the bending die.

5. A metal bending mechanism of the class described, including in combination aV bending die, a plurality oit coperating tube forming devices for said bending die, guides for said tube 'forming devices, and means for raising and lowering the said tube forming device upon the aforesaid guides.

6. A metal bending mechanism of the class described, including in combination a bending die, a plurality of coperating tube forming devices for said bending die, and means for adjusting said tube forming devices with relation to each other.

7. A metal bending mechanism of the class described, including in combination a bending die, a plurality of cooperating tube forming devices for said die, and means for adjusting said tube forming devices with relation to each other and to the bending die.

8. A metal bending mechanism of the class described, including in combination a bending die, a cooperating tube forming de-v vice for said bending die, a guide for said tube forming device, means for raising and lowering the said tube forming device upon the bending die, and means for Withdrawing the tube forming device from Within the bending die.

9. A metal bending mechanism o the class described, including in combination a bending die, a plurality of successively operf ated coperating tube forming devices for said bending die, meansv for adjusting the relative position of said tube forming devices, guides forV said tube forming devices, means for raising and lowering the said tube. forming devices upon the bending die, and additional means lfor moving one of said tube forming devices within thebending die.

10. A metal bendingV mechanism of the class described including in combination a bending die. a cooperating tube forming device for said bending die, said tube forming device comprising a positive controlled recip'rocatory piston rod, an arm pivotally connected to said piston rod, and a tube forming head carried by said arm.

11. A metal bending mechanism of the class described including in combination a Copies of this patent may be obtanedfor bending die, a coperating tube forming device for said bending die, said tube forming device comprising a positive controlled reciprocatory piston rod, an arm pivotally connected to said piston rod, a tube forming head carried by said arm, and means including .a sliding connection for moving the said arm upon the aforesaid pivotal connection.

12. In a metal bending device of the class described, the combination With a bending die, of a plurality of successively arranged tube forming devices, and means including a plurality ofpistons for independently operating the said tube forming devices.

13. In a metal bending device of the class described, the combination with a bending die, oi' a vertically movable tube forming device, another tube forming device hori- Zontally movable Within the bending die and Vmeans for operating said tube 'forming devices.

In testimony whereof We atlix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR L. LEWIS. JOHN L. TURNEY. Witnesses.

H. G. MILLER, JEAN E. JOHNSTON.

five cents each. 'by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

